Sheriff's Office

Animal Services

Animal Services Overview

Mission

The Mission of the Moore County Sheriff's Office Animal Services is to promote an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity and to enforce county and state animal laws. This Mission will be accomplished in partnership with the citizens of Moore County through the highest ethical, professional, and legal standards.

Quick Links

Education

The Animal Services Staff and Deputies are dedicated to furthering the public's knowledge about a variety of topics including the local animal control ordinance, rabies prevention, wildlife issues, responsible pet care and dog bite prevention. Please call (910) 947-2858 if your community group or class would be interested in coming to see us for a tour of the facility, or we'll be happy to come visit with you.

Helping people struggling with their pets’ behavior problems early on can keep them in their homes and out of the shelter. The videos below address the most common behavior issues that can lead to surrender.

Rabies

Rabies vaccinations (good for one year) are available at the Animal Services, Monday through Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 pm - 2:00 pm. The fee is $8.

Rabies is a disease, caused by a virus, that can infect all mammals, including humans. It is transmitted through contact with the saliva or nervous tissue of an infectious animal -- usually through a bite. If an exposed person or animal is not treated quickly, the virus may infect the person or animal and may result in death.

Rabies is almost always fatal to animals and people once signs of disease appear and the State of North Carolina mandates reporting of all animal bites for the protection of the victim. During a bite investigation of a dog or a cat, the rabies vaccination status is documented and the animal is observed for ten days. Immediate treatment by a doctor after exposure may include post-exposure rabies vaccinations and will prevent development of the disease.

If you have any reason to believe that there has been a dog or cat bite or other type of rabies exposure, immediately contact Moore County Sheriff's Office at (910) 947-2931 or call 911 after hours.

State and local law requires all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies by 4 months of age. Any pet which comes in contact with a wild animal known to carry rabies must be revaccinated within 3 days of the exposure. Officers will be available at the clinics to answer questions about rabies control and prevention in addition to administering vaccinations.

Please call Moore County Animal Services for additional information or to request an Animal Control Officer to make a home visit (additional service fee $15) at (910) 947-2858.

Animal Services

Moore County Animal Services is responsible for enforcing North Carolina statues and the county ordinance pertaining to animals. Animal Service Officers cooperate with local law enforcement in fulfilling this duty.

Other services provided include:

Investigation of animal bites and quarantine of any dog or cat suspected of having rabies

Canvasses for the propose of ascertaining compliance with rabies statutes

Investigation of animal cruelty or neglect

Investigation of nuisance animal reports

Investigation of vicious or dangerous dog incidents

Impoundment of stray domestic animals

Animal Services does not respond to reports of nuisance wildlife unless there is an immediate threat to public health and safety.
Animal Services operates during normal business hours of 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday though Friday. An On Call Officer is available for emergency situation thru 911 after hours and on the weekends and holidays. Animal Services does not respond to dead animals in your yard or on streets/highways. For dead animal pickup you may call D.O.T. at 947-2233. Animal Service Deputies do not go in attics or crawlspaces. You may reach out to N.C. Wildlife for a Damage Control Agent at 1-866-318-2401 for such aniamls in attics and crawlspaces.

Spay/Neuter

The Moore County Sheriff's Office Animal Services can house just over 50 dogs and almost 40 cats. Although we have one of the highest adoption rates in the state, we still are forced to euthanize adoptable animals when there isn't enough space to hold all of the community's homeless pets. It is our goal to increase the number of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats finding loving, forever homes, while at the same time reducing the number of unwanted pets. One way to make this possible is for Moore County citizens to have their pets spayed or neutered.FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE is available! Don't wait another day! It's as easy as filling out a short application. Please contact Animal Services at (910) 947-2858 to find out more information.
If you are a concerned citizen, please join us in addressing this need in our community. A program of financial assistance consisting of state funding, grant assistance and a community based donation fund helps our neighbors in need prevent unwanted litters. Please consider a contribution to the FIX'Moore fund.